Aging-prevention paradigm: against the idle brain

1. Aging-prevention paradigm:against the idle brain Natallia Aniskovich B.R.A.I.N. Interdisciplinary Center for Neuroscience University of Trieste Trieste Italy Oleg Artemenko Department of Japan and Korean Studies Faculty of Foreign Relations Belarusian State University Minsk Belarus

2. QuickTime™ e un decompressore TIFF (LZW) sono necessari per visualizzare quest'immagine. Modern situation: aged society

3. Two approaches to aging • passive longevity • anti-aging

4. Passive longevity • Evidence: • Aging boom or longevity revolution • Particular characteristics of Japan • Due to: • Decline in infectious and parasitic diseases • Improved sanitarian

5. Passive longevity • Prognosis substantial increase of chronically ill bedridden persons with need of home and institutional care large problems in the conditions of information society and changed demography situation

6. The main question: • How to make longevity effective?

7. Anti-aging paradigm • Goal: slowing the rate of aging and finding the ways of effective aging • Effective aging: conservation of both physical and mental capacities for the whole life extended period

8. Anti-aging paradigm • Promises: allows people to be effectively involved in labor, can diminish the need for home or institutional care and in general coincides to the demands of information society

9. Anti-aging paradigm Convergent technologies nano - bio - info - cognio NBIC Gerontotechnologies

10. Gerontotechnologies However, nowadays such technologies are mostly used not in anti-aging context, but otherwise in the context of adaptation of passive elderly They are based also on information technologies

11. Gerontotechnologies National Institute for Longevity Sciences (Japan) Department of Gerontotechnologies: • new information technologies and e-Japan strategy are used to create more convenient society and adaptive environment • Intelligent transportation system and barrier free environment for elderly and disabled persons

12. Gerontotechnologies biotechnologies + nanotechnologies stem cell therapy, therapeutic cloning, gene engineering, investigations related to human genome and proteomics the optimized care of our organisms and the extended life duration

13. Gerontotechnologies Is this really enough? an active approach to extended longevity

14. Against the idle brain new technologies would be involved in the stimulation of both mental and physical activity during aging and extended life «against the idle brain»

15. Against the idle brain a synthesis of old and traditional japanese longevity techniques allows for the person itself to control the process of aging

16. Traditional longevity techniques • «Nourishment of life» (yōjō) • «Bible of longevity» (Yōjōkun) nourishing the spirit was the primary goal and have been treated to be more important then nourishing the body

17. Traditional longevity techniques The original japanese health systems remained from the epoch of western transformations in Japan seem to be most promising in the health- maintenance modern strategy They combine both elements of traditional yōjō system with western approach in science and medicine. They could be referred to as: kenkōhō

18. Traditional longevity techniques Japan represents an ideal social system for elderly • a perfect «experimental field» for the revival of ancient health-oriented systems • an active environment for older people and a family-mediated society with intensive social contacts involving both old and young generations

19. Against the idle brain How to engage traditional techniques into new gerontotechnologies or, otherwise, how to apply new technologies to make old techniques modern and effective?

20. Against the idle brain • new technologies makes people too passive in their daily activities and too hopeful on any external efforts • many neurodegenerative disorders seem to be a payoff for the idle brain

21. Against the idle brain biotechnologies application in the treatment of neurodegeneration and dementia complex programs of rehabilitation which rely on active brain with potential of self-restoration depending on high mental and physical activity

22. Against the idle brain the investigation of biomedical potential of traditional healing practices and longevity techniques new reasonable ways of brain activity stimulation and self-restorative capacities or the search for mental modulation of immune response

23. Against the idle brain acceptance of traditional techniques as the still provocative alternative to modern highly technological approaches technologically engaged counterparts ways of synthesis

24. Against the idle brain The goal: brain controlling the process of aging and effective in continuous information processing in information society Means: the spirit approach of traditional techniques should be converted into modern situation and be applicable as a part of the whole anti-aging approach including prospective bio- and nanotechnologies

25. General conclusions Anti-aging-based health promoting system for longevity society should include:

26. General conclusions stimulating environment provocating application of at least some aspects of traditional longevity techniques and mind-body therapy together with new anti-aging therapies and technological implementations